Facebook Group Promotes John Mellencamp for Senate Seat

Internet buzz over John Mellencamp's potential career in politics has heated up, with nearly 1,700 people joining the "Draft John Mellencamp for Senate" group on Facebook. And several politicos seem to think the rocker could be a viable possibility to replace Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, who has announced he won't seek reelection.

As first reported in The Week, Brent Budowsky of The Hill notes that Mellencamp, who co-founded the Farm Aid concerts, is already a "voice for working people and a champion of farmers ... [He's] one of the great advocates of small-town America."

And though the liberal rocker would be taking over Sen. Bayh's seat, he has had dealings with the Republicans in the past: The musician's camp asked John McCain to stop using his hits, "Pink Houses" and "Our Country," in the 2008 Presidential campaign.

Mellencamp's lack of experience makes him a likely longshot, but from a political standpoint, the L.A .Times' Patrick Goldstein seems to think the state of affairs in the country could work in Mellencamp's favor.

"The only good news is that with the Republicans cozying up to all sorts of untested Tea Party oddballs, it would be hard for conservative pundits to engage in any of their customary celeb-bashing if Mellencamp were to actually throw his hat in the ring," writes Goldstein.